Work Groups

If you would like to join a Work Group, email the chair(s). Meetings are held via Zoom.

General Membership

Co-Chair: Bill Henning of Boston Center for Independent Living – bhenning@bostoncil.org
Co-Chair: Paul Lanzikos – paul.lanzikos@gmail.com

Bill and Paul co-chair the Coordinating Committee, as well as bi-weekly meetings of the entire membership. These bi-weekly meetings include updates from the working groups as well as other timely news.

Meets bi-weekly, on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m.

Home and Community Based Services

Chair: Meg Coffin of Center for Living and Working – mcoffin@centerlw.org

The Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Work Group focuses on improving and promoting access to HCBS as an essential component of the Commonwealth’s long-term services and supports (LTSS) continuum. The HCBS group advocates for policies, protocols, practices, services and financing of the programs and services that keep individuals in their homes and communities so they can receive necessary, person-centered care in the least restrictive and most appropriate setting and that prevent the unnecessary admission of individuals to nursing facilities. Additionally, the HCBS subcommittee promotes the enhancement of the state’s LTSS to be able to transition out of nursing facilities all those who do not oppose returning to the community. Our committee examines the many factors that impact individuals’ access and utilization of HCBS, such as service capacity and delivery, as well as improving the Commonwealth’s waivers and other specialty programs.

Meets Mondays at 11 a.m.

Behavioral Health

Chair: Frank Baskin of MA Aging and Mental Health Coalition – BaskinFrank19@gmail.com

The Behavioral Health Work Group advocates for appropriate and accessible behavioral health services for community dwelling older adults and adults under 60 so they can remain in the community; and appropriate and effective behavioral health services for adults who live in nursing homes so they can have opportunities to move to the community. The group includes individuals who are advocates, case managers, service managers, nurses, social workers, and more.

Meets the first and third Tuesdays each month at noon.

Facilities (Nursing and Rest Homes)

Co-Chair: James Lomastro – jimlomastro@comcast.net
Co-Chair: Arlene Germain of MA Advocates for Nursing Home Reform – agermain@manhr.org

The Facilities Work Group addresses quality of care and quality of life issues affecting residents. Accomplishments of this work group include developing policy recommendations on a wide range of issues, such as safe staffing levels, long-term care visitation rights during a pandemic, COVID-19 vaccinations for long-term care staff, nursing home closure policies protecting resident rights, and much more.

Meets every other Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.

Legislative

Chair: Dick Moore (former State Senator) – rmoore8743@charter.net

The Legislative Work Group studies the current Congressional, State Senate and House legislation to determine those bills which align with the Dignity Alliance mission and goals.

In addition, the Legislative Work Group is responsible for:

Managing the Dignity Awards process for Legislators.
Educating members on the legislative.
Working closely with other work groups to advance bills to best serve elders, people with disabilities, and their caregivers.

Read Legislative Workgroup.pdf for more info.

Meets alternating Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.

Dignity Advocates 2024

Chair: Paul Lanzikos – paul.lanzikos@gmail.com

Meets alternating Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.

Assisted Living

Chair: John Ford – jford@njc-ma.org

The ALR work group will be following up on our proposed consumer protection regulations for ALR’s which have been submitted to the Attorney General’s office in response to its public request in October 2024. The AG is expected to publish draft regulations in late January for public comment Several members of the work group have been appointed to the ALR Commission established by the Legislature in Chapter 197 of the Acts of 2024, and we will be following their deliberations. The work group plans to examine the state of rest homes in the coming year.

Meets every other Thursday at 12:00 p.m.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)

Chair: Cassie Cramer – cassiecramer@mamh.org

Meets once a month on Monday at 11:00 a.m.

Legal

Chair: Steve Scgwartz – SSchwartz@cpr-ma.org

The Legal Work Group provides feedback and guidance to other Work Groups, and the organization as whole pertaining to laws and regulations. In addition, the Legal Work Group analyzes cases for their relevance to Dignity Alliance, and helps draft and edit position papers for other Work Groups.